Ho. Ho. Ho.
A jolly ugh filled the auditorium—right before a cloud of smoke puffed up on stage.And with that puff, The Living Fog was back.
“Tokeru, I’m intrigued that you wish to challenge Gen Zero. But you should know your role.”
“As the head of the Student Council, you’re supposed to be a role model for the student body.”
He looked directly at the Student Council President, putting that principal-level authority to good use.
“But they aren’t deserving of their spot here! If it weren’t for their association with the Council…”“They’d be nothing!”
He argued back, visibly enraged at the principal stepping in.
“To be fair, it’s kind of his job, not gonna lie.”The disembodied voice whispered from the void. Or the walls. Or wherever.
Hmph.
“Very well. You wish to challenge them?”
“Go ahead. This academy is built on the foundation of the strong. So show the world who really stands at the top.”
Enzaki turned toward Gen Zero.They looked down from above—barely a flicker of respect on their faces, but… they were at least paying attention.
Thud.He tapped his cane against the wooden stage.
“So…”
“Do you accept his challenge?”
They looked down like royals observing peasants.Well—five of them did.One was bouncing like an excited puppy.
“Can we? Can we?”Keigo jumped up and down, looking back and forth between the crowd and the rest of Gen Zero.
“Seems fun. Let’s light that ego of his abze.”
“You should try settling problems with less fire and more chill.”
“You’re only saying that because your idea of solving problems is throwing money at them.”
The temperature dropped a few degrees.
“I beg to differ.”
Fwoom.A gravitational pulse erupted, forcibly separating the two climate-change disasters.
Tch.“Can you two stop bickering already?”
“Honestly—one’s a walking fire hazard, the other’s a reserved popsicle.”
The two exchanged gnces, then both turned to Haru, mildly offended.
“Coming from Ms. Gravity, who causes a scene whenever her ‘boyfriend’ says he loves her?”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
Both fire and ice, in perfect sync.Quick jab. Fwless combo.
“Keigo isn’t my boyfriend!”
She snapped—face red. Not sure if it was anger, embarrassment, or both.
“I’m not?”“…Oh.”
“Go away, Keigo!”
“Okay…”
He shuffled away, fake sniffing and everything.Oscar-worthy performance, really.
The four of them were putting on a full act—as usual.Which left the remaining duo to have their own little awkward moment.
Pause.
“Poor Ryo. This boy ain’t surviving one conversation with a girl.”“Still not even sure if said girl’s real or not.”
The disembodied voice shook its imaginary head with genuine pity.
“I am…”
“…real.”
AHHHHH.(Somehow, the ghost girl spooked the omnipotent voice. Let that sink in.)
Unpause.
“So…”“Any thoughts on his challenge?”
“Lea-der?”
Cough.“Well, by basic probability, it’s a guaranteed 98% chance he gets crushed.”
“…With a 2% margin in which we even consider sparring.”
“Are you accepting his request?”
“The optimal solution would be to do a group vote.”
“…Is there an optimal solution to get your attention?”
“W-What—I-I don’t get what you mean by that—”
Help.What is she saying!? Getting my attention?! Why my attention!? Is attention in the room with us!?
“...Cute.”
Uhhhhhhh—
“Yo, just go to the voting part. This is getting embarrassing.”
The disembodied voice chimed in again—sounding like a disappointed parent watching his kid fail basic social cues.
What the—You know what? Never mind. This is beyond my calcutions.Thanks, whatever you are.
“So. Team. Let’s vote. Do we accept his challenge?”
“Yes! Yes! We should accept it!”
Keigo wagged his invisible tail like a golden retriever on caffeine.
“This is a waste of time.”
“I believe we should be doing something more productive.”
FWOOM.Keigo was instantly pinned by gravity.…He seemed to be enjoying it somehow.
A projection floated up from Ryo’s tablet.
“So. One yes, one no.”
“Frostfire?”
The two natural disasters looked up at him. One was annoyed at what he said. The other soaking up the attention like it was spotlight therapy.
Fwoosh.Tchiiiii—krrrk.
A board of ice formed in front of Ryo. The message on it? Less ‘note’ and more ‘threat letter.’
You say that again, and I’ll make sure you wake up in an ice tomb tomorrow.
Oh—and I agree. We should accept his challenge.
“…Duly noted.”
Why am I the leader again!?
The board melted—evaporating into a puddle of steam that suspiciously spelled out:
Yes. Let’s set him abze.
“Okay. 3 to 1 vote.”
“Which leaves me and Ichika.”
“So… your vote?”
Ichika stared into his eyes.No. Through his eyes.Straight into his soul.
Is it getting hot in here!?My internal sensors just detected a 15°C spike. I need assistance.
He was sweating like he ran a marathon just from eye contact.
He. He.
“I think we should put him in his pce.”
Deadpan delivery. But there was a tiny flicker of mischief in her words.
I might be a goner.My blood pressure is currently doing jump rope.
Cough.
“Well… looks like the majority has voted. We accept the challenge.”
(Meanwhile, the rest of the auditorium had been staring at them the entire time.)
“Strongest of our generation? Seriously?”
Shiro was spiraling.
They’re supposed to be rivals to the Council? How? How do you compete with that?
He was so deep in his thoughts he barely noticed the sparkle sitting beside him.
“Wow…”“Look at their Fate control…”“Do they give out lessons?”
Shindo sparkled like a fan girl watching her favorite idols.
Psssh.“Lessons?”
“Nah. I wanna know if they give out sparring matches!”
Sachi practically vibrated with unfiltered bloodlust.
Pause.
“…Maybe I should’ve given her a different personality.”“Cause at this rate she’s not making it past Chapter 10.”
Disembodied voice, doubting his own character design.
Unpause.
Are they mocking me!?
Am I just worthless to these so-called royals!?
A massive spike in Karo surged through the auditorium.
“Who do you think you are!?”“Treating this like a game!?”
Tokeru had enough.But then… a pause.A smirk.
“Maybe you’re scared?”“Afraid someone might finally put you all in your pce?”
Ah.
That remark?Yeah, that’s the kind of thing you sign in blood and get a one-way ticket to the afterlife for.
The room’s temperature dropped.Not from Rukimi this time.
Ryo stood up. Eyes locked, face cold.This was the expression of the real leader of Gen Zero.
“You speak like you’re one of the best.”
A new projection flicked open on his tablet.Detailed analysis. Every stat, every fw. Like a résumé from hell.
“You may hold many accodes…”
“…but when it comes down to it—you’re 75% ego, and 25% pathetic.”
“So, we’ll grant your wish.”
Tokeru’s eyes twitched. His Karo spiked.He looked ready to chuck his title and his future straight into a fistfight.
Thud.
Enzaki tapped his cane.
Transtion: Know your pce or else.
“Very well…”
“Looks like we’ll be having a little exhibition match.”
He waved his hand, conjuring a cloud of smoke that spiraled into a floating hourgss.Instead of sand—it dripped thick smoke with every second.
“The match will be held in three hours.”“At the S.T.F.”
(Specialized Training Facility, for your information.)
“Be sure not to be te. After all… this might be your one chance to see the ‘best’ at work.”
The room went dead quiet.
For about two seconds.
Then it exploded.
“WE GET TO SEE GEN ZERO GO OFF!”
“WHICH MEMBER WILL FIGHT!?”
“MY MONEY’S ON GEN ZERO!”
The crowd turned into a one-sided fan club.
Daichi sat, mouth slightly open, awestruck.
“…The gap between a commoner and a royal is insane.”
“Who are you betting on to win?”
“With how the crowd’s acting? Probably gonna be a clean sweep.”
Shiro nodded—serious now.
“Yeah… they’re probably right.”
Pause.
“Well, that’s the end of that chapter.”
“Not much left to do in the auditorium.”
“Anyway—onto the next part.”
“You know… the three hours where they have to kill time.”
“…Or be killed”
Unpause.
